Denver Union Station Opens

Video: Union Station transforms into a world-class transit center

Ribbon cutting reopens Denver Union Station

RTD's new Union Station Transit Center opened Friday May 9, 2014, with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The historic Union Station has been revitalized as the centerpiece of a bustling downtown, offering more transportation services, connections, and access than ever before. Buses began running at underground bus concourse May 11. At the same time, Market Street Station closed.

View a slideshow of the celebration below:

A new city within a city is being constructed in LoDo with transit at its center. What used to be an abandoned rail yard is now a bustling urban environment, bursting with new businesses, new buildings, and new transportation options. A complete transit experience, and significant architectural icon, the Union Station Transit Center offers bus, light rail, a new 22-gate bus concourse, Amtrak, and (soon) commuter rail - under one roof.

Nearby retail, residences, and parks complete the transformation.

A huge crowd gathered to watch the proceedings and then they stayed as the grand opening celebration was capped off with a festival all afternoon along 17th between the light rail station and the historic building. A spectacular "Flash Mob" formed and performed a fun dance routine for the crowd. See the videos of that here.

Another talented group of performers most definitely helped the crowds get in the spirit of the festivities. The drumline from ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch joined us and led the way to kick off the grand opening events. We have video of some of their hot performance as well.

Cooperative Managed the Project

Background

In May 2002, the Denver Union Station project began when RTD, City and County of Denver, the Colorado Department of Transportation and the Denver Regional Council of Governments, partnered to develop a Master Plan and conduct an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Union Station. For more about the EIS click here. Work began on Dec. 3, 2012.

Transit-Oriented Development

DUS provides an opportunity to create a dense, mixed-use transit-oriented development adjacent to the transit facility and may include up to 2 million square feet of development on the DUS site. It will be the "Grand Central Station" of the metropolitan region as the center of the regional transit system in the heart of the city. A master plan for the site has been completed and adopted by the four partner agencies (RTD, CDOT, DRCOG and the City and County of Denver).

Urban Transit Center

Denver's Larimer Associates is handling the retail leasing of the remodeled urban transit center, which will feature more than 22,000 square feet of ground floor space divided into approximately 10 independent retail and restaurant outlets.

It will feature a 12,000 square foot public common area, the "Great Hall," and 40,000 square feet of outdoor plaza space. In addition, the redeveloped Union Station will house Amtrak and RTD as well as a new 110-room independent hotel on the upper levels to be managed by Denver's Sage Hospitality.

Denver Union Station: A 'Green' project

DUS is pursuing a LEED certification. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for new construction. See details here.